Railway car coupler

ABSTRACT

In a railway car coupler of the knuckle type which embodies means for automatic unlocking and opening of the knuckle during an uncoupling operation, an improved lever member having roller contact with an associated cam element is utilized to improve the functioning of the knuckle unlocking and opening means.

United States Patent 1191 DePenti 111 1 3,856,154 [4 1 Dec. 24,1974

[ RAILWAY cAR COUPLER [75] Inventor: Kenneth L DePenti, Mayfield Heights, Ohio [73] Assignee: Midland Ross Corporation,

Cleveland, Ohio [221 Filedz Apr. 26, 1974 21 ApplQNo; 464,355

52 U.S. c|.. 213/110, 213/1 16 [51] Int. Cl. B6 lg 3/08 [58] Field of Search 213/20, 21, 60, 61, 116,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,549,022 12/1970 Metzger 213/110 3,717,261 2/1973 DePenli 213/110 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Henry Kozak 57] ABSTRACT In a railway car coupler of the knuckle type which embodies means for automatic unlocking'and opening of the knuckle during an uncoupling operation, an improved l'ever member having roller contact with an associated cam element is utilized to improve the functioning of the knuckle unlocking and opening means.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures minimum-241914 3,856,154

SHEET 1 [If 4 l RAILWAY CAR COUPLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In K. L. DePenti U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,261 issued Feb. 20, 1973, there is shown a railway car coupler of the knuckle type in which the locked knuckle thereof automatically opens during uncoupling of coupled couplers. Energized means in the form of a spring is employed to 1 effect opening of the knuckle. As the coupler parts SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention as applied to a knuckle type coupler comprises a spring-actuated lever member within the coupler head which actuates a cam element to effect unlocking and opening of the knuckle. The lever member is pivotally mounted in the head and has a roller element which, upon pivoting of the lever member, is moved into engagement with and rolls along a cam surface on the cam element to actuate the latter..The lever member includes means to which a pivotal spring seat is connected, the seat being the means through which the spring force is transmitted to the lever member. The lever member also has arm means to which a plunger-like member within the coupler head is operatively attached and which is adapted to be engaged by an opposing coupler to inactivate the lever member BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a vertical sectional view of a car coupler embodying the invention, the coupler knuckle being closed and locked.

FIG. 2 is aside elevational view partly in section of car coupler embodying the invention, the coupler parts being shown in position corresponding to the coupled condition of the coupler.

FIG. 3'is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the coupler parts in the same position as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4a is a fragmentary view taken along line 4a-4a of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the lever member in position in which its roller element is in initial contact with the cam surface of the cam element.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the parts when the knuckle has been fully opened. r

FIG. '7 is an end view of the lever member shown the previous figures.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the lever member shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional plan view of the coupler shown in the previous figures shown in coupled relation with a mating coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, there is shown a car coupler having a head 10, and a knuckle l2 pivoted to the head by a vertical pivot pin 14. The head is chambered as at 16 to receive a lock- 18 and the tail 20 of the knuckle. In FIGS. 1 and 9 the knuckle is shown in closed position, with lock 18 in opposed relation to knuckle tall 20 to lock the knuckle against movement to open position. Lock 18 has a depending leg portion 22 to which is connected a lock lifter link 24 by means of a trunnion 26 which extends into elongated slot 28 in the lock leg. The lower end of link 24 is pivotally connected to a rotor lever 30 which is pivotally attached to the underside of the coupler head by a rotor shaft 32. The rotor shaft comprises an eye portion 34 to which an uncoupling rod 36 is attached. Manual rotation of rotor shaft 32 by means of rod 36 results in actuation of rotor lever 30 and lifting of lock 18 by link 24 to the upper end of chamber 16 wherein it is out of locking relation with knuckle tail 20. Further actuation of the rotor lever results in rearward movement of the lock leg 22 which forces arm 38a of knuckle thrower 38 to swing rearwardly, which causes another arm 38b on the thrower to engage the knuckle tail pad 20a and pivot the knuckle to open position. The aforementioned coupler parts are those of the Association of American Railroads Alternate Standard F Interlocking coupler. whose construction and operation are well known and understood in the art.

The aforementioned operation of unlocking and opening of the knuckle 12 is also effected through the provision in the coupler of automatic means for actuating rotor lever. 30. This automatic means is carried within the coupler head but is inactive except during the uncoupling of a pair of coupled couplers. When two cars are to be uncoupled, one of the coupled couplers is placed in lock-set position by actuation of the uncoupling rod 36 in the usual manner, but the mating coupler knuckle remains in locked condition. In lock-set position of coupler the lock israised out of locking re lation with its knuckle so that the latter, upon the application of a pulling force to the couplers, will be caused to pivot to open position by the opposing knuckle which is in locked condition. However, as the couplers being to separate. the automatic means of the locked coupler becomes operative to open the knuckle.

The automatic means for opening the knuckle comprises a cam element 40 secured to rotorshaft 32 for rotation therewith, a lever 42 for actuating the cam element, spring means 44 for actuating lever 42 and a her izontally disposed plunger 46 operatively connected to the upper end of lever 42. As will be hereinafter explained. the automatic means functions to rotate shaft 32 to effect unlocking and opening of the knuckle in a manner similar to that when shaft 32 is manually operated by means of uncoupling rod 36.

The coupler head has spaced apart depending lugs 10a and 10b which have openings for receiving rotor shaft 32 for pivotally mounting the shaft thereto. Extending laterally from lug 10b is a hub portion 10c which receives shaft, 32 and provides added support therefor. The portion of shaft 32. which extends betweenlugs 10a and 10b is provided with a flattened key portion 32a which receives the hooked portion 30h of rotor lever 30 to key the latter to the shaft. The end portion of shaft 32 which extends laterally beyond the side of hub 100 is formed with a pair of flat surfaces 32b and 32cv adjoining the circular surface of the shaft. Cam element 40 has an opening through its hub 40a which is complementary in configuration to the end of shaft 32 whereby the element is keyed to the shaft. Element 40 and the shaft are apertured to receive a bolt 50 to secure the element to the shaft. A lock nut 52 on bolt 50 is tightened against element 40 to protect against loss of the bolt and the element.

Cam element 40 is provided with an arm 40b having a convex cam surface 40c which is in a generally vertical position when the coupler is in knuckle closed and locked condition, as in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Pivotally mounted in chamber 54in the guard arm 56 of the coupler head is lever 42. Lever 42 pivots about a horizontal pin 60 whose axis is disposed above and forwardly of the axis of rotor shaft 32. It will be noted that chamber 54 is open at the bottom side of the coupler head to facilitate assembly and inspection of the mechanism.

Lever 42 comprises a hub portion 61 for receiving pivot pin 60 and is provided with a roller arm 62 extending from the hub.Arm 62 is disposed laterally of the longitudinal verticalcenterplane of the coupler the same distance as cam arm 40!) as seen in FIG. 3. The outer end of arm 62 is bifurcated as at 62a, 62a. A roller 64 is disposed within the bifurcation and is pivoted thereto by a horizontal pin 66. Roller 64 is spaced a substantial distance forwardly of cam surface 40c when i the coupler is in knuckle closed position as in FIGS. 2 and 4, and is adapted to be moved into engagement with surface 400 when lever 42 is actuated, as will be hereinafter explained.

Lever 42 also has a pair of spaced arms 70 which are disposed laterally outwardly of roller arm 62 and generally on thesame side of hub 61 as arm 62. Arms 70 are each formed with U-shaped bearing portions 700 at their outer ends for pivotally supporting a rear spring seat member 74 about a horizontal axis. Seat member 74 has trunnions 74a which extend laterally from the sides thereof and are received in bearing portions 70a. A forward spring seat member 76 is also pivotally mounted in the coupler head. Spring means 44, shown in dot-dash, is disposed between seat members 74 and 76 and is under a predetermined amount of initial com-' pression. Seat member 76 is provided with a longitudinally extending shaft or stem 76a which projects through a central opening in seat member 74. Stem 76a is in slidable relationship with member 74 and assures that the ends of spring means 44 will remain in place against its respective seats and that the spring will compress and. expand without bowing or distorting during operation of the mechanism.

Lever 42 has an arm 82 extending from hub 6I in the opposite direction from arms 62 and 70. Arm 82 is operatively connected at its upper end to horizontally movable plunger 46 by means of a horizontal trunnion 82a which is received in U-shaped slot 46a at the rear- .ward end of the-plunger. At its forward end plunger 46 tial amount forward of the buffing face 10d of the coupler head. During a coupling operation the opposing knuckle of a mating coupler will engage surface 46b of the plunger and urge the plunger rearwardly of the coupler until in the fully coupled position of the couplers surface 46b is approximately in line with buffing face 10d. Moreover, inward movement of plunger 46 has caused lever arm 82 to swing rearwardly about pin 60 to the position shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 9, thereby further compressing spring means 44. It will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 4 that lever arm 62 is disposed in such a position that roller-64 spaced a substantial distance forwardly of cam surface 400. This spacing of roller 64 from cam surface 400 is necessary because of the free slack which usually exists between coupled freight car couplers, and assures that unintentional uncoupling of the couplers will not occur. Thus when coupled couplers are in pulled condition, the knuckle of each coupler will be spaced forwardlyof the buffing face of the opposing coupler head, which will allow plunger 46 to move forwardly by a corresponding amount. This will result in roller 64 being moved inwardly toward cam surface 40c but it will still be spaced therefrom.

It will be observed that when the coupler is in coupled relation with another coupler, plunger 46 through its engagement with trunnion 82a maintains lever 42 in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4a. In thatposition spring means 44 is under maximum compression so that the expansive force thereof is available during the knuckle unlocking and opening operation. Referring particularly to FIG. 4a, the portion .r" of trunnion 82a immediately adjacent arm 82 and in engagement with the opposing surface 460 of the plunger is reinforced by portion y on the opposite side of the trunnion. Thus trunnion 82a is of increased cross sectional area at its juncture with arm 82 to provide added protection against shearing and bending loads applied to the trunnion by the plunger. 7

When coupled couplers are to be uncoupled the lock of one coupler is placed in lock-set position by means of uncoupling rod 36, as is well known in the art. This unlocks the knuckle of the lock-set coupler so that it can swing to open position when a pulling force is applied to the couplers. Referring to FIG. 9 it will be assumed that coupler A will be placed in lock-set condition, coupler B" remaining in locked condition. As the couplers begin to separate in response to a pulling force, the knuckle l2 ',.of coupler A which had been holding plunger 46 in the position shown in FIG. 9 begins to pivot toward open position and moves away from the plunger. As this occurs, the plunger is moved outwardly of the coupler by the expansion of spring means 44 whicn pivots lever 42 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. This swings arm 62 rearwardly and brings roller64 into engagement with the upper end of cam surface 40: as seen in FIG. .5. As separation of the couplers progresses, plunger 46 continues its movement outwardly of the coupler under the action of spring means 44 and as arm 62 moves rearwardly, roller 64 rolls downwardly along surface 400, thereby effecting rotation of cam element 40 in a clockwise'direction. This action results in actuation of rotor lever 30 as though it were being actuated by means of uncoupling rod 36. Continued separation of the couplers causes roller 64 to roll along surface 40c to the position shown in FIG. 6, wherein cam element 40 has been pivoted the amount necessary to fully open the knuckle 12. It will be appreciated that at the end of the uncoupling operation the knuckles of both couplers will be in open position. Moreover, at the conclusion of a coupling operation, with the knuckles closed and locked, the coupler parts will return to the positions shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The rolling action of roller 64 along surface 400 avoids the frictional resistance that would be created if sliding engagementwere to occur between the end of lever arm 62 and surface 400, as in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,717,26l. It assures that smoother as well as more positive unlocking and opening of the knuckle will occur. Roller. 64 and pin 66 may be made of material such as stainless steel to resist corrosion and to increase the effective service life of those parts.

Referring to FIG. 5 which shows the initial engagement between roller 64 and cam surface 400 at the start of the knuckle unlocking and opening operation, the effective force exerted by the roller to rotate cam element 40 acts at a moment arm m relative to axis of rotor shaft 32. When the parts are in position corresponding to that in which the knuckle is fully open, as in FIG. 6, the force of the roller acts at a moment arm m" relative to the axis of rotor shaft 32. Moment arm m" isabout 30 longer than arm m, so that while the force exerted by spring means 44 decreases during the uncoupling operation, this reduction is offset by the increased length of the moment arm at which the spring force is exerted. This assures that adequate torque is available for fully opening the knuckle.

What is claimed is:

I anism therein operable for unlocking and opening the 1. In a car coupler of the pivoted knuckle type, mechanism therein operable for unlocking and opening the knuckle thereof, said mechanism including a rotor shaft member pivoted to the coupler and adapted upon rotation thereof to actuate said mechanism, and automatic means for effecting rotation of said shaft member, said means comprising a cam element keyed to said shaft member for rotation therewith, a lever member pivoted to said coupler, said lever member having means engageable with said element for effecting rotation thereof, said last-named means comprising a roller for rolling engagement with said element, and force exerting means acting against said lever to effect pivotal movement thereof.

2. A car coupler according to claim 1 in which said lever member comprises an arm to which said roller is attached and arm means against which said force exerting means acts.

3. A car coupler according to claim 2 in which said lever member has another arm to which a plunger member is operatively connected, said plunger member being engageable by an opposing mating coupler to hold said lever in position such that said roller is out of engagement with said cam element when the couplers are in coupled relationship.

4. A car coupler according to claim I in which said force exerting means comprises a compression spring reacting against said arm means;

5. In a car coupler of the pivoted knuckle type, mechknuckle thereof, said mechanism including a cam element pivoted to the coupler and adapted upon rotation thereof to actuate said mechanism, and automatic means for effecting rotation of said element, said means comprising a lever member pivoted to said coupler, said lever member having roller means engageable with said element for effecting rotation thereof, spring means reacting against lever member for actuating the latter, said lever member having an arm, and a plunger member operatively connected to said arm, said plunger member being engageable by an opposing mating coupler to move said lever member to a position such that said roller means is out of engagement with said element when the couplers are in coupled relationship.

6. In a car coupler having a head, a knuckle pivoted to said head and swingable from closed to open position, a lock for said knuckle, a rotor shaft member pivoted to the underside of said head, mechanism within said head operatively connecting said lock and said shaft member whereby upon rotation of said shaft member said lock is moved out of lock relation with said knuckle and the latter is swung from closed to open positon, and means in said head for automatic rotation of said shaft member comprising a cam element keyed to said shaft member, a lever member pivotally mounted within a chamber in said head, said lever member having a roller adapted for engagement with said element to rotate the latter upon actuation of the lever member, spring means for actuating said lever member, and a plunger member in said head operatively connected to said lever member, said plunger member being adapted for engagement by an opposing coupler during a coupling operation to move the plunger member to a position in which said roller is in spaced relation to said element.

7. A car coupler according to claim 6 in which said head has a pair of spaced depending lugs having openings through which said shaft member extends, one of said lugs having a laterally extending hub portion for receiving and supporting said shaft member, an end of said shaft member projecting laterally beyond the side of said hub portion. and said cam element is keyed to said projecting shaft end.

8. A lever member for use in a car coupler to actuate I an associated cam element in the coupler, said member said second arm means has a bifurcated end comprising a hub portion for receiving pin means for pivotally mounting the member, first arm means extending from said hub providing bearing means for an associated spring seat, second arm means extending from said hub on the same side thereof as said first arm means and having roller means for engagement with said cam element and third arm means extending from said hub in a direction opposite from said first and second arm means, said third arm means having trunnion means for operative engagement with an associated plunger member in the coupler.

9. A lever member as set forth in claim 8 in which portion for receiving said roller means. r

10. A lever member as set forth in claim 7 in which said trunnion means extends'laterally from said third arm and is reinforced at its juncture therewith. 

1. In a car coupler of the pivoted knuckle type, mechanism therein operable for unlocking and opening the knuckle thereof, said mechanism including a rotor shaft member pivoted to the coupler and adapted upon rotation thereof to actuate said mechanism, and automatic means for effecting rotation of said shaft member, said means comprising a cam element keyed to said shaft member for rotation therewith, a lever member pivoted to said coupler, said lever member having means engageable with said element for effecting rotation thereof, said last-named means comprising a roller for rolling engagement with said element, and force exerting means acting against said lever to effect pivotal movement thereof.
 2. A car coupler according to claim 1 in which said lever member comprises an arm to which said roller is attached and arm means against which said force exerting means acts.
 3. A car coupler according to claim 2 in which said lever member has another arm to which a plunger member is operatively connected, said plunger member being engageable by an opposing mating coupler to hold said lever in position such that said roller is out of engagement with said cam element when the couplers are in coupled relationship.
 4. A car coupler according to claim 1 in which said force exerting means comprises a compression spring reacting against said arm means.
 5. In a car coupler of the pivoted knuckle type, mechanism therein operable for unlocking and opening the knuckle thereof, said mechanism including a cam element pivoted to the coupler and adapted upon rotation thereof to actuate said mechanism, and automatic means for effecting rotation of said element, said means comprising a lever member pivoted to said coupler, said lever member having roller means engageable with said element for effecting rotation thereof, spring means reacting against lever member for actuating the latter, said lever member having an arm, and a plunger member operatively connected to said arm, said plunger member being engageable by an opposing mating coupler to move said lever member to a position such that said roller means is out of engagement with said element when the couplers are in coupled relationship.
 6. In a car coupler having a head, a knuckle pivoted to said head and swingable from closed to open position, a lock for said knuckle, a rotor shaft member pivoted to the underside of said head, mechanism within said head operatively connecting said lock and said shaft member whereby upon rotation of said shaft member said lock is moved out of lock relation with said knuckle and the latter is swung from closed to open positon, and means in said head for automatic rotation of said shaft member comprising a cam element keyed to said shaft member, a lever member pivotally mounted within a chamber in said head, said lever member having a roller adapted for engagement with said element to rotate the latter upon actuation of the lever member, spring means for actuating said lever member, and a plunger member in said head operatively connected to said lever member, said plunger member being adapted for engagement by an opposing coupler during a coupling operation to move the plunger member to a position in which said roller is in spaced relation to said element.
 7. A car coupler according to claim 6 in which said head has a pair of spaced depending lugs havinG openings through which said shaft member extends, one of said lugs having a laterally extending hub portion for receiving and supporting said shaft member, an end of said shaft member projecting laterally beyond the side of said hub portion, and said cam element is keyed to said projecting shaft end.
 8. A lever member for use in a car coupler to actuate an associated cam element in the coupler, said member comprising a hub portion for receiving pin means for pivotally mounting the member, first arm means extending from said hub providing bearing means for an associated spring seat, second arm means extending from said hub on the same side thereof as said first arm means and having roller means for engagement with said cam element and third arm means extending from said hub in a direction opposite from said first and second arm means, said third arm means having trunnion means for operative engagement with an associated plunger member in the coupler.
 9. A lever member as set forth in claim 8 in which said second arm means has a bifurcated end portion for receiving said roller means.
 10. A lever member as set forth in claim 7 in which said trunnion means extends laterally from said third arm and is reinforced at its juncture therewith. 